Manhattan Cocktail

• Recipe by Cocktails 2006

Employees Only, New York City
This Manhattan reflects the recipe in America's first cocktail book, 1862's The Bon Vivant's Companion, by Jerry Thomas. It calls for more vermouth than rye-the opposite of the modern Manhattan.

Ingredients

1. Ice
2. 12 ounces sweet vermouth
3. 8 ounces rye
4. 2 ounces Grand Marnier
5. 16 dashes of Angostura bitters
6. 8 orange or lemon twists

Directions

1. Fill a pitcher two-thirds full with ice. Add the vermouth, rye, Grand Marnier and bitters and stir for 30 seconds to chill. Strain into 8 chilled martini glasses; top each with a twist.